By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 15, 2025
Photo Credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook
Shadows swallowed the center court when Carlos Alcaraz Finally saw the light.
Alcaraz survived from a severe challenge from Andrey Rublev Scoring a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory to advance in its second semifinal of Cincinnati Open.
It was not easy and it was not always beautiful. Alcaraz completely lost his first service not to serve the match at 5-3 and was following the perspective of a set third Tiebreaker.
Then Rublev Double blamed twice in the last game, including a deep double fault at the point of match while Alcaraz was shaken, but refused to give in a two-hour, 17-minute frenetic victory.
The second-ranking Spaniard scored his 15th ATP Masters 1000 victory and reached his 12th semi-finals of 1000 masters, equalizing with the former World no. 1 Carlos Moya for the third most among the Spanish men.
Refuse to lose
moment @Carlosalcaraz marked his 15th victory of independent masters 1000!#Cincytennis pic.twitter.com/fqeswm1u9y
– Tenis TV (@tennistv) August 15, 2025
22-year-old Alcaraz will play or with the third seed Alexander Zverev OR Toronto champion Ben Shelton For a place in the final and a possible blow to the world No.1 Jannik Sinner.
So far, the sinner has seemed more commanding in this open cynic.
For the second time, this tournament Alcaraz was pushed to the three-group distance and for the second time he survived by putting more returns in the game and applying his shrewdness of all judges to cause the injured narrow ruble to finally break down after a fierce effort for much of the match.
Rublev is very capable by shaking the initial base and torn the growing ball. However, the Russian transition game and net skills are not exactly assets.
Alcaraz recognizes it and pulled Rublevin forward with the combination of shot-shot-lob to win the resting point. Drawing his opponent forward again with another shot shot, Alcaraz fired the pass and blocked a backward blow for 2-1.
With the subsequent change, Rublev withdrew into the Umpire chair Mohamed Lahyani, claiming that the service hour was starting very early and rushing it. Lahyani emphasized that the clock automatically begins to extinguish Rublev’s anger.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, walked straight from Imbroglio without stopping to hear even let go of 15 to 3-1.
Attacking the second Russian service, Alcaraz won double points in the ninth match. The Spaniard distributed a strong kick by catching a lead with a set after 35 minutes. Alcaraz won nine out of 13 points played in Rublev’s second service and converted both of his rest points.
The second seed collided with a two ace game to start the second set.
Beyond the net, Rublev was set and rolled at 12 of its first 13 points of service for the second second 3.
In the seventh match, Rublev ran around a religion of the Middle Court and went a bold winner inside-out. This blow preceded a double fault of Alcaraz and helped Rusin win his first resting point.
When an anxious Alcaraz sailed a long time, Rublev grabbed his first rest and a 4-3 lead.
By firing through a strong hold, Rublev extended its lead to 5-3.
The 2021 Rublev finalist dismissed a massive first pair of serving to serve the second set in 15 and to force a decision -making after 75 minutes of sweaty game.
Joining a banana during the replacement, Rublev celebrated a second set to see it serve 70 percent, earning 20 out of 23 points in its service and utilize the middle obstruction of Alcaraz.
Stress hit Rublev in the fourth match as he hit two double mistakes, constantly catching his throwing and sometimes bark in his box after mistakes. However, Rublev saved a pair of resting points by attracting backward mistakes from the Spaniard. A slippery volleyball turned from top to his shoulders helped Rublev Cap inspiring at level 2.
Down the love-30 in the following match, Alcaraz shot forward with bad intentions, winning four points in a row 3-2.
Sliding in the corner at full speed, Alcaraz somehow shoots a phenomenal lobe. This part of the splendor preceded a bold backward return that gave the Spaniard the point of the double break. A bite return followed by an intersection of backward explosion gave alcaraz rest and a 5-3 lead as it released a vamos!
This match 🤯 Pic.twitter.com/y0EC9Wdybf
– Cincinnati Open (@cincytennis) August 15, 2025
Rublev was not done. Serving for the semifinals, Alcaraz could not buy a first service and Rublev was rejected in a second serving a first money return winner for double rest. Paying the price for a game filled with first lost services, Alcaraz without Rublev Breaking immediately for 4-5.
Alcaraz set the point goal effectively for most of this match and used it again to withdraw the error and help it hold for 6-5.
In the last match, Rublev had a game point at 40-30, but Alcaraz, who struck an excellent foreword passed down the line earlier in the game, fired another preface, then attracted another wrong back for the point match.
Rublev, who had caught his shot often in the last set, hit a double deep-eight-day double-day day of day-to catch a match with high octane with a mistake.
Although Alcaraz only faced two resting points throughout the day, he lost some backward returns and his first service briefly deserted him. However, Alcaraz kept him fresh and sealed his best ATP 52-6 record.
Continuing his attempt for a sixth title this season, Alcaraz is now 37-2 since the beginning of April and still stays in Queen City.
